Meet the Study Abroad Staff

Bio:

Shawn is originally from South Carolina but grew up in the California Bay Area. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Los Angeles and her Master of Arts from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Shawn has traveled to over 15 countries on three continents, including seven years of living between Ghana and Togo, West Africa. While living in West Africa she led customized faculty-led groups, global internship and service-learning programs. Some of her travel studies include French summer sessions in Paris, a conflict resolution fellowship in Tanzania/Kenya and a United Nations graduate-level internship in Geneva.  She enjoys exploring new places; especially scenic beach spots in her free time.

Quote:

“The only person I envy is the person who hasn’t traveled or studied abroad; you have so much to look forward to! I truly believe everyone deserves and needs a global perspective.  I know sometimes going abroad is easier said than done. But, as my mentor Marie Forleo says, ‘everything is figureoutable’.  I’m so excited to be in a role where I get to help students figure out a path to achieve their dreams”.

Favorite destination:

Portbou, Spain

Next on her list:

Thailand, Senegal, Cape Verde Islands

Bio:

Jan was born and raised in the Philippines until the age of 11 when she moved to the U.S. She lived in Michigan for three years before moving to Alabama in 2005. Jan graduated from South in 2016 majoring in Foreign Languages and Literatures with a concentration in French. Studying in Dijon, France was the highlight of her college career. She loves learning about different cultures and languages. She is proficient in English, Tagalog, French, Italian and some sign language. On her spare time, she enjoys drawing with charcoal, jamming to Disney songs, and watching re-runs of Friends.

Quote:

It’s not impossible, but I’m possible! I never thought my dream of going to France would become a reality. But because of the Office of International Education, I made it from Moulton Tower to the Eiffel Tower! Studying abroad teaches you things that you will never learn within the four walls of a classroom. It will give you answers you will not find in the pages of a textbook. What you reap from the experience is invaluable and life changing. Come visit our office and take the first step in making your dream come true!

Favorite destination:

Het Drielandenpunt (“Tripoint” where the borders of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands meet)

Next on her list:

Australia and the United Kingdom

Bio:

Nick is originally from Mobile, Alabama, but spent 4 years at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg working on his undergraduate. He graduated in 2020 with a double major in Spanish and Media Production and is now at South working on his Master’s in Teaching English as a Second Language. Nick studied abroad in Cadiz, Spain during his undergraduate, as well as spent a few months in Panama City, Panama during winter break. In his spare time he enjoys playing games, being out in the sun, and practicing Spanish with his friends. 

Quote:

“Studying Abroad was a win-win because I was able to grow in my Spanish skills as well as get first hand learning experience of different cultures. Studying in another country teaches you more than a text book ever could, and I hope to help South students overcome any doubts or fears that are holding them back from their study abroad adventure!”

Favorite destination:

Panama City, Panama 

Next on his list:

Colombia, Mexico, and Peru 

Major:

Foreign Language - Spanish

Travel Experience/Program:

South Korea and USA Virtual Afro-Argentine Culture and Spanish Language, Summer 2021

Most Memorable Experience:

I spent December 2019 and January 2020 in South Korea visiting my best friend who is teaching English there. I was very nervous to travel alone for the first time, but it ended up being the most amazing experience. I had never been outside of the United States prior to this trip, and experiencing this new world with my best friend was so memorable. This trip is so special to me because I overcame a major personal barrier with flight anxiety, and the outcome was superb! Now that I know that I can fly 19 hours across the world alone, I am so excited to travel internationally again. This trip to South Korea will always be close to my heart. If you are nervous about traveling internationally, take a risk! You can overcome any obstacle. The rewards are endless.

Major:

International Studies and Anthropology

Travel Experience/Program:

ISA: Virtual Korean Language and Electives in English at Korea University; Seoul, South Korea; Summer 2021

Most Memorable Experience:

My most memorable experience was the program graduation ceremony. Because it was a virtual program I did not get to experience the term first hand, but the graduation ceremony made me feel connected to the school and to my fellow students. It was fun to see people I recognized from my class as well as the hundreds of other students in other classes. The speeches made by students and faculty were so inspiring and really did make me feel like a part of the Korea University community. 

Major:

Biology

Travel Experience/Program:

USA Pre-Health in Croatia, May 2019 and USA Exchange: University of Western Sydney, Spring 2020

Most Memorable Experience:

The day before I left Australia, my roommate and I made a last minute decision to wake up and catch the sunrise over Bondi Beach. Then, we headed to the Blue Mountains and ended up hiking all day, literally all day, because we got lost. Somehow we had wandered completely off the trail, our phones were dead, the sun was going down, and we ended up hiking 17 miles to find our way back. It was kind of a scary experience, but it was an exciting adventure. I got to spend all day outside enjoying the beauty of nature, and it was worth it for the story!

Major:

History and Interdisciplinary Studies

Travel Experience/Program:

Athena Study Abroad: Heidelberg, Germany, Summer 2019

Most Memorable Experience:

One of my most memorable experiences while in Germany was when my friend and I were invited to our headmasters country castle where he was hosting a music festival. The castle dated back to the 13th century and sat on a hill overlooking the German countryside. The festival was for the small community surrounding it, most of whom did not speak English. We were treated like special guests by everyone, including the band. The next day, our headmaster toured us around the grounds, giving us all the history of it and the area.

Major:

Instructional Design and Development

Travel Experience/Program:

Czech Republic and Jordan

Most Memorable Experience:

My most memorable experience abroad is the time I stayed overnight in a Bedouin campsite outside of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. I spent three days exploring and meeting local people who lived in and around the archaeological park. It was a very culturally enriching opportunity to visit the people who live in that community, and an incredibly humbling experience to be invited to share their living spaces, share meals with them, experience their everyday life, and admire the natural beauty of their awe-inspiring home. Halfway through my visit, I had no more options to recharge my phone; despite how nerve-racking it seemed at first, it allowed me to more fully enjoy my surroundings and to live in the moment. Seeing the night sky full of stars unobscured by city lights, feeling the unexpectedly frigid desert night air, and listening to the wind howling through the campsite in the middle of the Jordanian desert at bedtime was such an authentic experience and remains a cherished memory I will not soon forget.